Guilty verdict in cold case slaying at Lake Tahoe

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. (AP) — A California man has been convicted in the slaying of a South Lake Tahoe gas station employee 34 years ago.

The Sacramento Bee reported Thursday (http://bit.ly/RSbYMK ) that a jury deliberated less than two days before finding 52-year-old Andrew Sanford guilty of first-degree murder in the death of Richard Swanson.

Prosecutors told the jury that DNA evidence tied the 52-year-old Sanford to duct tape that was used to asphyxiate Swanson, who was 16 when he was killed in 1980.

Swanson was working alone when he was bound and gagged. The killer took his wallet and $190, as well as $761 from the cash drawer.